NHS People Plan

17/11/2020 10:30:00

The NHS People Plan was published by NHS England and NHS Improvement on 30 July 2020.

This follows on from the Interim People Plan published in June 2019 and sets out the actions that organisations, employers, staff and systems will need to take in the coming months, building on the progress already made and the additional learning from COVID-19.

The second chapter in the plan includes a specific commitment on looking after our people, which clearly outlines the actions we must take to keep NHS staff safe, healthy and well - both physically and psychologically - with quality health and wellbeing support for everyone. The actions for this chapter fall under three areas:

health and safety
physical and mental health and wellbeing
flexible working

We have summarised the specific asks under each area and have signposted to relevant tools, resources and guidance that can support employers to carry out the actions.

The plan also includes Our People Promise, which outlines behaviours and actions that staff can expect from NHS leaders and colleagues, to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone.

Read the full plan: We are the NHS: People Plan for 2020/2021 - action for us all

Read the Interim People Plan

Health and Safety

Topic	Ask of employers	Supporting resources
Infection Control	Maintain effective infection prevention and control processes.	PHE - Covid-19 infection control guidance
PPE	Ensure access to PPE and appropriate training for staff.	PHE - Covid-19 PPE guidance
Flu	Vaccinate as many staff as possible.	PHE - Health and care workers immunisation campaign
Risk assessments	Risk assess all BME staff, and anyone who is vulnerable or at increased risk.	NHS Employers - Risk assessment guidance, tools and NHS trust examples
Home working	Continue to support staff to work from home, safely.	NHS Employers - Working from home guidance
Rest breaks	Encourage staff to take breaks and use annual leave.	NHS Employers - Back to basics for a healthy working environment infographic
Bullying and harassment	Tackle bullying and harassment and create positive workplace cultures – NHSEI will launch a civility and respect toolkit by March 2021.	NHS Employers - Professionalism and cultural transformation toolkit NHS Employers - Tackling bullying guidance NHS Employers - Tackling bulling in the NHS infographic SPF - Civility and respect resources
Violence	Prevent and control violence against staff – a new violence reduction standard will be launched by December 2020.	SPF - Violence reduction resources

Physical and mental health and wellbeing

Topic	Ask of employers	Supporting resources
Wellbeing guardians	Identify a wellbeing guardian (this should be a non-executive director).	NHS Employers - Getting your board on board resource NHS Employers - Board health and wellbeing responsibilities
Travel	Support staff to use alternative modes of transport, including cycle-to-work schemes.
Rest spaces	Provide safe, confidential spaces for rest and discussions with colleagues.	NHS Employers - Healthy working environments guidance NHS Employers - Back to basics for a healthy working environment infographic
Psychological support	Ensure all staff can access psychological support – either locally through system-level resilience hubs or through the national NHSEI support offer for staff.	NHS Employers - Mental wellbeing guidance NHS Employers - Mental wellbeing in the workplace infographic NHSEI - Support offer
Sickness absence	Proactively support staff on sick leave and support them to return to work. NHSEI will pilot improved occupational health services with a select number of local systems.	NHS Employers - Sickness absence toolkit NHS Employers - Occupational health guidance NHS Employers - Improving performance by improving staff wellbeing North Bristol NHS Trust case study
Physical activity	Support staff to be active in the workplace.	Physical activity blog
Stress and burnout	Enable managers and leaders to develop team-based cultures of wellbeing.	NHS Employers - Work-related stress guidance
Wellbeing conversations and induction	From September 2020, every member of the NHS should have a health and wellbeing conversation and develop a personalised plan. These conversations may fit within an appraisal, job plan or one-to-one line management discussion, and should be reviewed at least annually. As part of this conversation, line managers will be expected to discuss the individual’s health and wellbeing, and any flexible working requirements, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion. From October 2020, employers should ensure that all new starters have a health and wellbeing induction.	NHS England and NHS Improvement resources: Guidance on implementing health and wellbeing conversations Guidance on health and wellbeing conversations for facilitators REACT training NHS Employers' resources: Making health and wellbeing vital in conversations Supporting your line managers Wellbeing coaching questions for managers 121 wellbeing check in template for staff Mind Wellness Action Plan (WAP)

Flexible Working

Topic	Ask of employers	Supporting resources
Attraction	Adjust recruitment practices to advertise all roles as open to flexible working patterns. NHSEI and the NHS Staff Council will develop guidance for employers by September 2020.
Flexible working cultures	Open up conversations about flexible working more regularly – at induction, as part of appraisals - and aim to offer as much flexibility as possible to all staff in all roles and at all levels.	People Performance Management toolkit Guide to embedding flexible working Enablers of flexible working infographic
Flexibility from day one	Adjust flexible working processes to enable staff to request flexibility from the start of their employment, or at any time.	Workforce mobility case study Nurses’ views on flexible working Flexible retirement hub NHS England and NHS Improvement retention hub
Role modelling	Board members should support flexible working. NHSEI will include a new KPI on the percentage of roles being advertised as flexible in the oversight and performance frameworks.
E-rostering	Organisations should implement effective e-rostering systems. NHSEI will continue to support organisations to do this.
Training	NHSEI and the NHS Staff Council will develop online guidance and training for line managers and staff on flexible working, by December 2020.
Primary care	NHSEI will work with stakeholders to build on already flexible working practices in primary care.
Junior doctors	HEE will continue to roll out increase flexibility for junior doctors.
Carers	Utilise the working carers passport and support flexible working for carers, using the carers passport	NHS carers passport